How noisy is your Transmission

[R65Singh]

Hello all;
The tranny on my bike gets noisy as the it warms up...is this normal?  This is my first BMW bike so don't know what to expect.  The noise totally disappears when the clutch lever is pulled in.  It sounds like something loose in there(rattly noise)...may be gears loose on shafts....or too much end play.  The bike shifts smooth in all gears and only sometimes might chatter during downshifting.  I noticed milky oil when i first replaced the trans oil so i am sure there was water in the oil.  I replaced the boot on the speedo cable to seal the water out.  
Just wondering if someone else has the similar noise?  Do you think putting a thicker Gear oil will cure it?

[DgM]

BMW transmissions clack going away and they clack coming back.

[Bob_Roller]

That's pretty much normal for these transmissions, just keep an eye on the gear oil when you drain it out, and check for excessive metal in the bottom of the drain pan .

I had the same problem with getting water into the transmission through the speedometer drive boot, this was back in the mid to late '80's, before I had heard of the inter net, let alone any BMW motorcycle groups .

Went on for 5 years, until I found out myself what was causing it, definitely damaged the bearings in the transmission, when I had the transmission overhauled about 2 years ago, I was given all of the old internal parts from the transmission, and you could see the rust damage on the ball bearings, and races .

Kind of explained the increasing amount of ferrous metal flakes when I drained the gear oil out of the bike .

[Mike V]

I can't stress the importance of Bob's message. Check your speedo cable boot regularly and be extra careful with washings. Never pressure wash and if you do use a hose, do it carefully and make sure you go for at least a 20 minute ride after washings. It's very important to change your hypoid at least annually and inspect your used fluid closely for emulsification and metallic fragments in the fluid and on your magnetic plug.  Prevention and maintenance can save you a very large bill. I speak from experience. See for yourself...

http://s428.photobucket.com/albums/qq8/gruntyman66/78%20R100%20Trans%20Repair%205-09/

Mike V.

[Justin B.]

The 140w80 (or whatever) will quiet it a little bit and seems to me to make 1-2 upshift a bit more positive.  The rattling is caused by the gears on their shafts spinning around with basically no load on them.

[nhmaf]

Yes, with the transmission sitting in neutral, the gears will make a rattle when the transmission is being spun round.  IT is the nature of the beast - but do pay attention to the advice the others have given you.  I find that putting  a finger tip full of grease under the speedometer cable boot on the transmission end that helps to block - or at least slow - the intrusion of water should it manage to get past the boot.

[R65Singh]

Thanks Justin...i was not sure if we can use thicker oil like 85-140.  I will try that next.  I have zip tied the speedo cable boot and used the grease underneath so hopefully no water in the future.  Not sure how much damage had been already done....wish the PO had an idea about it. May be i will just open the transmission up in this winter to see where it stand.  I prefer to know what is going on than not knowing about it.  I think knowing your machine creates trust in its reliability.

[Mike V]

Singh, I don't want to be over-sensitive here but I would like to be respectfully sceptical about your so-called common transmission noise. I agree these bikes have a certain noise level for obvious reasons. I think what's important here is the definition of "normal". I rode my bike for 5 years with what I felt was normal and also dismissed the small amount of metallic glob on my drain plug as normal, which it may have been until the flakes appeared when it was too late. I just want to make a suggestion to you to take the bike to an experienced ear for a secod opinion. The longer you ride the bike with noise the more normal the noise seems to become to the rider. Find a trustworthy and experienced source to lay and ear and a hand on the bike. Normally the output shaft bearing is the first to give warning of other problems manifesting inside the case. I don't want to see you end up with excessive costs if you can prevent it ahead of time. Just my $0.02.
Respectfully,
Mike V.

[R65Singh]

Thanks Mike for your valuable suggestion.  I did see some fuzz and some visible flakes when i drained the oil.  The flakes were tiny and hard to feel with your fingers but visible to naked eye.  I am planning to take it apart in the winter and in the mean while, will get a second opinion.  You r right about the ears getting used to the noise. I still have to see another airhead of the same era in my part of the town....there are not just very many around.  Always nice to compare.  Thanks again and i appreciate it.  
Ride Safe!!!

[nhmaf]

If you've drained the transmission oil and have found some metal flakes, or more than the 'usual' small amount of fuzz, then there is indeed something not right going on.   I didn't notice your original post's mention of milky oil - if there was water sitting in there for long enough, then indeed some internal rusting may have occurred.   If you've found some metal flakes, then you will be doing some repair work this winter.

Snowbum, aka Robert Fleischer, is an internet expert on airheads, though he is extremely wordy and "un-concise".  Nonetheless, he has plenty of related material on these transmissions:

http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/transmission.htm

[slickster]

 Hi this is Slickster I have noticed some new noises in my trans lately.  I have found milky oil in my trans in the past.  This a winding, werring, noise that started all of a sudden, so much I took my r65 84 home to the garage.  Took the drain plug out and had some slivers of metal.

[Danie]

I am not sure about transmission noises on older R65 models, but my R65 monoshock (1988 model according to the registration paperwork) does not have any transmission noise al all.

[tvrla]

Time for an overhaul, Slickster! Good for you parking it right away - most likely saved yourself hundreds of dollars on the rebuild. Usually it's the front (engine side) bearing of the output shaft that's first to go, and I'd be willing to bet that's the case with yours.

[raymr]

I am not sure about transmission noises on older R65 models, but my R65 monoshock (1988 model according to the registration paperwork) does not have any transmission noise al all.

Not even a slight whine in 4th gear?

[Barry]

Mine whines  a little under load in the lower gears particularly up hill in 3rd. It's not unreasonable to expect a some  gear whine as all the gears except 5th are straight cut while top is helical cut. Helical cut gears are always quieter because of the progressive engagement.

BMW K's had a distinct whine due to straight cut gears. Any bike with straight cut gears for the primary gear reduction tends to whine.